Another birthday leads to some pondering on aging
I recently celebrated a birthday. Well, celebrated is probably not the word since I was sick with food poisoning … but in any case, a birthday came and went.
Without giving away my age, let’s just say there is a song by the Beatles that now applies to me! (Hint: It’s not “She Was Just Seventeen …”)
With time on my hands while I was down and out, I had the opportunity to mull a few things over. Could it be that I’m getting old? Hmm, it was indeed a philosophical question to ponder. Let’s look at things rationally:
First and foremost, I don’t feel old. That is, of course, assuming I don’t look at a mirror or try to dress in my skinny clothes. OK, that aside, I still don’t feel old. I felt there was a need for further introspection.
Not that many years ago, if there was loud music playing in a room, I would likely rock out. No question. Now? I would likely walk out. But that doesn’t mean I’m old. Does it?
Not that many years ago, I would have gladly munched on freshly made french fries from any fastfood restaurant. And I would have likely had a burger to go with it. After all, I’d work it off in the course of my day, playing tennis or biking.
Now? No thank you to the french fries. Laden with calories, fried in unhealthy oil, clearly a threat to my borderline cholesterol…. Oh geez. Well, wait — that doesn’t make me old. It makes me … wise. Right?
Not that many years ago, I would have pulled an all-nighter, watching movie marathons, playing roadie to my husband’s rock band or going out with my friends. We would happily find an all-night diner and have breakfast at 4 a.m.
Now? Eat after 7 p.m.? Are you kidding? That’ll sit like a rock in my stomach, not to mention put on at least 4 pounds! I hate to admit It, but the score of “Me vs. Old” is not looking good.
Not that many years ago, I could sleep anywhere! In a chair, the floor, a cot, a sleeping bag, probably even a bed of nails — didn’t matter.
Now? I need four pillows to get comfortable on the couch because Lord knows, if I lay flat, I’ll get vertigo. And, without that fourth pillow, I’ll get a crick in my neck… and… uh oh. Score another point for old.
OK, let’s move on. Somehow, I woke up one day and did not even recognize the popular actors or singers. I mean, what happened to Robert Redford and Meryl Streep?
Now, if I watch the Academy Awards, not only do I not recognize the names, I don’t even know the movies they are in.
And music…what happened to Genesis? James Taylor? Elton John? Billy Joel? Those guys are all old! Somehow, they aged, and I did not…or did I? Hmm…once again I have to scratch my head.
Wow…am I caught in some kind of time warp that took me years into the future? Or am I, gasp, old?
It certainly can’t be the latter, because I just don’t feel old. But I guess old can sneak up on you.
The thing is, we don’t have to let old get the best of us. Sure, I can’t change that magic number that is my chronological age, but that doesn;t mean I have to act that age. I will continue to skip down the hallways at work and let my inner child keep the smile on my face for as long as possible.
The Brittany Boys, a great swing band born here at Brittany Pointe, just celebrated their 10th anniversary.
They have the greatest band motto: “You don’t stop playing because you get old…you get old because you stop playing.”
So, these great guys, who range in age from upper 60s to upper 80s, keep playing because it’s fun. The true fountain of youth is all in your mind.
Nope. I’m not getting old. Not as long as I can help it.